Apparatus for washing clothes



(No Model.)

G. HARGREAVES.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES.

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UNITE STATES PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE IIARGRE AYES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

APPARATUS FOR W ASHING CLOTHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Iva 360,014, dated March 29, 1887.

Application filed December 12, 1885. Serial No. ISSAH). (No model 7 T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE HARGREAVES, of Detroit, in the county of YVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for \Vaslr ing Clothes and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to apparatus for washing clothes by steam; and the object of my invention is to produce an apparatus which may be readily connected to the steam-heating system of a house, and thus avoid the necessity of an additional fire during the operation of laundering.

To this end my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter described and claimed. Y

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a perspective View of my improved washing apparatus in operative con dition. Fig. II is a detached view of the cage for holding the clothes.

In the said drawings, A designates a tank or receptacle for water, and B designates the boiler, which is supported upon a bench or suitable table, B. The tank or receptacle A is placed directly above the boiler B, as shown,

and is provided with a pipe, 0, which is designed to be suitably connected to the steam heating system. This pipe 0 is provided with a cook or valve, D, by opening and closing which steam is admitted into or shut off from the tank A, steam so admitted to be below or above water-line in tank, as in boiler B, to boil said water. Branch pipes O 0 lead from main pipe 0 to the boiler B, the pipe 0 being provided with a cock, E, by turning which steam is admitted to or shut off from boiler B.

G designates an outlet-pipe of the cold-water service of a house, and this pipe, which extends outward directly above the tank A,

branch, F, having a cock, f, by turning which cold water is admitted into or shut off from the tank A. Pipe G is also provided with a faucet, H, to which a flexible tube, I, is connected, this tube being designed to conduct cold water into the boiler B through its double hopper b, or to other vessels, as desired. The tank A is also provided with a faucet, K, by means of which water may be drawn off from tank A. In order to permit the top of boiler B to be taken off without striking faucet K, the latter is jointed at L, so that the faucet may be turned laterally against the tank A to clear the top of the boiler when it is being taken off. a

M designates a bracket-crane, which is suitably secured above the boilerB, and which carries atits outer hooked end a pulley-block, N.

O designates a chain passing over pulley N, and carrying at one end a double hook, P, for a purpose presently to be described. The pinion of pulley N carries a ratchet-wheel, R, which is engaged by a pawl, S, pivoted upon the side of the pulley-block. A cord, T, is attached to the outer end of pawl S, and it will be readily seen that with a weight upon chain 0 the pawl S will prevent the descent of the weighted end of the chain unless pulled out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel by means of cord T.

\Vithin the boiler B is placed a cage or clothes-holder, U, having an axle or arbor, u, and also a hinged door, a. Upon one end of arbor a is secured a pulley, 1f, around which passes a driving-belt, V. The double hook 1?, before referred to, catches under the ends of arbor u, and by means of chain 0 the cage is lifted out of and lowered into the boiler B or a tub, B, containing bluing or other water. By this means the clothes are handled in bulk, and the operations of washing and bluing are accomplished much more speedily than is possible in the old way of handling each piece separately. The boiler B is also provided with a faucet, b, for drawing off water, and a gage-glass, b, for indicating the amount of water in the boiler.

At T, I have shown a gravity-motor for actuating the cage in the boiler. \Vithin the frame of this motor is journaled a shaft carrying a pulley, 10, around which passes the is provided with a downwardly-extending driving-beltV.

A band, 10, passes around the pulley w, and also around the pulley 10'. Upon the shaft of pulley w is wound a band, 10', to which is secured one or more weights, 10. A loop, 10, is attached to pulley 'w", and by pulling down upon this pulley the weight w is raised. In its descent this weight actuates the pulley w, and, through the belt V, revolves the cage U in boiler B.

Any other suitable motor may of course be used to actuate the cage automatically, or it may be operated by hand.

From the above description it will be seen that the apparatus greatly facilitates and simplifies the operation of washing, and necessitates the employment of but a single person. No additional fire is required, since the water is heated directly by the steam-heating system.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An improved apparatus for washing clothes, consisting of a boiler and a water-receptacle placed in direct communication with the steam-heating system of a house, substantially as described.

2. An improved apparatus for washing clothes, consisting of aboiler and a water-receptacle placed in direct communication with the steam heating system of a house and connected with the cold-water system of the same, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the tank A and boiler B, of the steam-pipes leading from the tank to the boiler and the cold-water pipe supplying the tank A, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the tank A and boiler B, of the steam-pipes G C 0, having the valves D E, as described.

5. The combination, with the tank A, having the jointed faucet K, of theboiler B, having the removable top, the steam-pipes O G 0, having cocks D E, and the cold-water pipe G, having branch F, cock f, faucet H, and flexible tube I, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE HARGRE AVES.

WVitncsses:

SAMUEL I-IARGREAVES, FRED. GUENTHER. 

